The Peoples Democratic Party is heading toward a defining moment as its internal divisions come to the fore ahead of the November 15–16 national convention in Ibadan.
At the heart of the standoff are two factions: one led by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, demanding far-reaching changes before the convention can proceed—such as fresh congresses in Ebonyi and Anambra, a new South-East zonal congress, and an end to micro-zoning—and the opposing camp headed by Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed and other PDP governors, who have collectively rebuffed these ultimata.
At the inauguration of the National Convention Organising Committee in Abuja, Governor Mohammed responded bluntly: “We are not cowards, and we are not afraid of anybody. But we cannot continue to keep quiet and allow people to take us to the slaughterhouse.”
He emphasised that consensus should not be mistaken for weakness, and warned that if anyone wants to form a faction of “fools,” the party would allow that—but will not be derailed.
PDP national chairman Umar Damagum echoed this firmness, asserting that the party remains intact and determined to reclaim Nigeria’s presidency. Senator Ahmed Makarfi, backstopping the party’s Board of Trustees, urged inclusivity while warning that the majority must not be held hostage by a few.
Adamawa Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, as Convention Committee chairman, pledged a “fair and transparent” convention and appealed to members to settle internal conflicts within party structures—not in the media.
The mounting tension underscores a broader struggle within the PDP, one that places the party’s cohesion and democratic process under strain. As various power blocs confront one another, the outcome of the Ibadan convention will likely signal the victor—or casualty—of the battle for the party’s future.
